The Brazilian Senate has called for President Jair Bolsonaro to be legally prosecuted in order to punish him for his acts and inactions during the COVID-19 outbreak, which claimed the lives of 250,000 people. It was decided to accept the proposition by a 7 to 4 vote.
Bolsonaro Should Be Held Liable For The Crimes Of Covid
According to the report released Tuesday, after six months of investigation into the government’s response to the pandemic, the 11-member panel recommended that Bolsonaro be charged with a variety of crimes, including fraud and inciting crime, as well as misappropriation of public funds and crimes against humanity. Bolsonaro has denied the allegations. More than 600,000 individuals have died as a consequence of COVID-19 in Brazil, according to official figures.
What is your take on Bolsonaro’s activities, and what do you think he should do in the future?
The most contentious charge against her is that she was responsible for an epidemic that resulted in the deaths of many individuals. Those found guilty risk a sentence ranging from 20 to 30 years in prison on average. In his opinion, Bolsonaro has a “weak legal case” since the epidemic was not initiated by him in the first place, according to Gustavo Badaró, an expert in Brazilian legal matters. Badaró is a professor at the University of So Paulo. He has a doctorate in philosophy.
Apart from that, Bolsonaro has been accused of charlatanism, fabricating private records, squandering public money, crimes against humanity, violation of social rights, and a breach of presidential decorum, in addition to failing to adhere to health-care regulations.
Among the most compelling arguments against Bolsonaro, as Badaró points out in his final report, is the charge that he has delayed or abandoned measures necessary as part of his public-officer obligations for the purpose of personal gain, which is supported by evidence. The risk of incarceration for three months to one year exists, but Bolsonaro may be compelled to stand down as president if convicted of the charges.
Neither Bolsonaro’s open challenge to medical treatments nor his defense of pharmaceuticals that do not function against coronavirus is supported by evidence, according to law professor Ricardo Barretto of the IDP university in Brazil. At meetings that he organized and coerced people into attending, the president was often seen with his shirt off. Despite his reservations, chloroquine, an anti-malarial medicine, was promoted as a treatment for the condition.
Several senators argued whether or not to include Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in murder and genocide in the final report, but they ultimately opted against doing so.
What Are The Next Steps For Us?
Augusto Aras, Brazil’s prosecutor-general, who has previously sided with President Michel Temer and is generally seen to be protecting him, must determine if the Senate probe warrants the launch of an investigation. Since Bolsonaro is currently serving as a member of Congress, the Supreme Court must first give him permission to continue serving.
Senate probe chairman Omar Aziz reported that Aras would be presented with the committee’s recommendations on Wednesday afternoon. Upon the decision of the Prosecutor General to pursue charges against the president, the matter will be heard by the Chamber of Deputies, which is Brazil’s lower house of Parliament.